A Lone Journey But Never Alone (Elyss/???)

Clothes, check. Food, check. Money, check. With a last minute rifle through her backpack, Elyss found herself in a complex situation. Her body has mended, and she is all but mentally ready to leave Minatumi Harbour and begin her journey. Yet, after her tenth time rummaging through her bag, she still has yet to exit out of the Mansion’s doors and head out into the big world. Why is this proving so difficult? Every other time she had left, she did so with barely a stutter, but now that this moment has arrived, she’s found herself afraid to leave the safety of the Harbour and head into the unknown looking to learn herself and the world better. Maybe it’s the thought that she’s definitely going to end up a different person that has her spooked. Change is sometimes harrowing, but sometimes, it is what is needed.

However, eventually, Elyss found herself walking the streets of the city towards the train station. That’s where she’ll start her journey. She’ll end up in Karakura Town, and from there, decide where to go next. She has a few things she needs to settle there anyhow. Wearing the clothing Ulv had given her, the skirt modified into black jeans with a white T shirt and jacket, Elyss had left without any words thrown to her foster mother. It didn’t matter anyway. Ulv could sense the redhead reluctantly taking steps closer to the shaky road she has chosen for herself. Of course Elyss has a ton of regrets right now, but none of them truly matter in the end if she can’t progress forward. It sucks that she has harmed many, but it is best she takes her leave sparing most from seeing her troubled state. At the end of the road, she hopes she’ll be able to truly make up for all she’s done.

Soon, Elyss could see the train station nearing. Her time is near. Iori, Ulv, Arianda, Fuuen, Arkin, Keiko, Tenmarin, and Murasaki. All of them appear in her mind which causes her to pause and rub at her eyes a bit. She’s not getting emotional, but she’s simply steeling herself for the many tribulations that are to come. Is she actually ready to take off like this?

Huh? What a lame introduction? If Elyss didn’t recognize the voice or the energy, she would have never had guessed someone was speaking to her instead of someone near her. Her stoney eyes turn to the side with a small turn of her head staring up at Murasaki, the Captain herself. Now, out of everyone Elyss had expected to see again before she departs, the Captain was not one of them. Elyss had thought the woman far too busy with her duties to care enough to check on one disruptive member that’s barely even a Shinigami now, much less a member of the Gotei. It caught her by surprise, so much so that Elyss felt the sudden need to run and hide with thoughts that Murasaki was sent to finish her off for abandoning her duties. Yet, that lame greeting sounded far too casual for something like that, and Murasaki doesn’t seem the one to start something in such ways.

“C-Capt- ….. Oh, you…”

At first, Elyss spoke with surprise with a small rise of her brows, but, quickly, her mood plummeted. Her eyes fell away from the woman staring off towards the ground off to the side as her grip on the strap to her bag tightened. Ah yes. Just another person she had let down with her foolishness and unstable nature.

“What are you doing here… of all places…”

“Check on me?”

Well, Elyss had hoped that the Captain would have had a better reason on why she’s on Minatumi. However, the fact that Murasaki took even a moment out of her busy day just to check on someone who treated everything given to her poorly struck at Elyss’ heart strings slightly. It’s not easy to say what Elyss wants exactly. She’s not sure herself, but the idea of being able to talk to Murasaki without it feeling taboo would be nice, but that’s an eventuality that she hopes she reaches one day. Right now, this interaction just feels too out of place with the memory of her losing control of her own Zanpakuto and attacking the Captain still fresh in her mind. It’d be wrong to continue seeming as if she wanted nothing to do with Murasaki however.

“...Thank you, Murasaki. Thank you for coming here even though you’re not a fan of this place and probably not that big a fan of me either. I don’t know where I’m going. First, Kurakara to meet a particular woman and then… wherever the world decides I should be. I just hope the world helps me… grow.”

Grow. That’s the simplest way Elyss could put it without sounding fearful of whatever changes she may experience. The redhead didn’t want to bring up Hannah either. Knowing the ex-Gotei member’s history, Elyss is unsure how Murasaki would take it.

Elyss’ eyes slowly moved up from the ground and up to Murasaki’s face with a longing in her wavering stare. Despite little being said, Elyss could feel herself slowly getting a bit caught up in her head worrying over everyone back in Squad 7. How are they doing? Does anyone miss her? Did she even matter in the end? Though, those are some selfish thoughts and only makes her feel slightly bad and realize how badly she wanted to help people and distract herself from her own issues. Even now, she’s trying to grasp at something she shouldn’t be.

“My train will be here soon.”

When was Elyss one for running? Despite constantly facing beings that could wipe her out of existence, leaving her nothing but a whisper in the wind, she’s always stood her ground. Mental illness be damned when it comes to whether Elyss will stand by her ideals. Besides, why would she run from Murasaki? There’s no point in such meaningless action. For one, she’s slower than the Captain, and even if Murasaki desired to harm the redhead, there are plenty of people around who would defend her. But, it is one thing after another, isn’t it? At least she’s confronting her demons no matter what form they take.

Though, her thoughts are interrupted by Murasaki pulling out some strange cloth. It’s blue, like the sky. And, it seems rather exquisite. Wasted on Elyss but appreciated nonetheless. The redhead almost felt like smiling as she reached out to take it. Yet, she felt her lips grow heavy and sighed.

“I appreciate the support, but I guess in the end, your support doesn’t really matter, huh? I’m not a part of 7 right now and don’t go spouting some nonsense about accepting me back whenever I return. I’m Elyss Kishimoto, an ex-member of the Gotei as of now. I don’t know what’s going to happen to me out there Murasaki. I don’t know if you’ll want to meet the Elyss that comes out at the end of all this, so I won’t promise you anything except that I won’t die. Too many people would rather I live. It’s sort of annoying, but it’s best you forget about me for now.”

What morbid words, but Elyss simply wanted Murasaki to return back to the Gotei and not stress over the redhead. Yeah, Elyss could have just told the woman that in a more simpler manner, but she wanted their positions to be clear. Elyss isn’t someone worth worrying too much about, so it’s best to push someone away then let them get too close.

“You people make it hard to copy the movies.”

That’s all Elyss said after Murasaki finished lecturing her. There was a want to punch the woman and demand a more cryptic last words, but she made no move to do anything as her exCaptain started walking away. The woman wasn’t wrong though. Her train is going to be here soon. Everything just felt weird and stupid to the redhead. Why is she even saying? Is she trying to sound cool or something? Elyss just didn’t want people to worry about her, but that’s an impossible thing to ask of everyone. It made her question if she really wanted to just end things like this. But, Elyss is the last person to understand how to handle emotions in situations like these. All she can do is follow her guts.

Hopefully, this doesn’t end with her being thrown onto the ground, but with hurried steps, Elyss would attempt to give Murasaki a quick hug from behind before taking off towards the train hoping to get away before anything could be said or done. A good sign, surely? But, there’d be no explanation for it despite how easy it’d be to ask for one. Elyss hoped that Murasaki would let her go and let things end this way for now. Besides, Elyss doesn’t want to miss her train.